Group Urges Jigawa To Release N1bn For Health Insurance

A group, Jigawa State Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Accountability Forum (JiMAF) has appealed to the state government to release the N1 billion allocated for the enrolment of an additional 149,240 underprivileged persons into the non-formal sector Basic Healthcare Insurance.

The call was contained in a press statement issued by the group at the end of a two-day review meeting it organised in Dutse, the state capital.

The statement which was signed by the group’s secretary Comrade Isa Mustapha said the timely release of the money is key to the commencement of the enrolment exercise which will enable the targeted beneficiaries to access the services.

He said the programme would enhance the state government’s commitment toward achieving universal health coverage.

“We are using this medium to appreciate the state government for the passage of the revised Jigawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency Bill into law, we believe this will strengthen the Primary Health Care Under One Roof (PHCUOR) and promote equitable distribution of human resource for health and improve service delivery.

“JIMAF is therefore appealing to the governor of Jigawa State to assent the bill.

“While we commend the efforts of the state for allocating 12.1 percent of its 2024 annual budget to the health sector, the quarter 1 budget performance analysis by JIMAF has revealed an abysmal budget performance across the MDAs in the health sector.

“This is affecting the state government’s desire to make basic healthcare services accessible and affordable for all people irrespective of economic and geographical locations. Therefore, there is a need to improve budget releases across the sector.

“We commend all the development partners for supporting the state towards improving health indices and call on other stakeholders to support in monitoring and ensuring judicious utilization of the fund when released. JIMAF will continue to collaborate with the government and other partners towards the overall development of the state,” it said.